Safety-pin



(No Model.)

J. L. PHILLIPS.

SAFETY PIN. No. 588,776. Patented Aug. 24,1897.

jnz/eniar JJ/ZILZZP/LL'ZZ UNITED ST TES PATENT FFIQEQ JOHN L. PHILLIPS, OF LEAVENWORTII, KANSAS.

SAFETY-PIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,776, dated August 24, 1897.

Application filed October 8, 1896. Serial No. 608,296. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN L.' PHILLIPS, of

fastened and whichtherefore will be found useful in many connections or places where the safety-pin of the ordinary type cannot be reliably employed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the said accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a safety-pin embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section taken on the line III III of Fig. l, the pin being in its lockedor fastened position. Fig. 4 represents a similar view with the operative portions of the pin in a different positionviz., in the position theymust assume before the pin can be unlocked.

In said drawings, 1 designates the usual body portion, of spring-wire, of an ordinary safety-pin, said wire "being coiled at a suitable point to provide the spring-hinge 2 and the pin 3.

The body portion or shank 1 is bent approximately in the plane of the pin to form the rearwardly-disposed loop 4 and then in the form of a transverse loop 5, the sides of which converge toward the shank or body portion of the pin, so asto contract the mouth of said loop for a purpose which will presently appear. The wire is then continued toward said shank or body portion, as at 6, and coiled around it, as at 7, and then extends, as at 8, divergently with reference to the portion (3, so as to form the passage 9 between it and the adjacent side of the loop 5, which passage communicates with the contracted end of'the loop by way of the loop 4.

At a pointopposite the said loop 5 said wire again extends horizontally forward and approximately parallel with the shank or body port-ion of the pin and then transversely and rearward, so as to form a horizontallydisposed loop 10, through which the pin proper mustpass in fastening or unfastening, as said loop communicates directly with the passage 9. The extreme end of the Wire then bends or coils loosely, as at 11, around the vertical or approximately vertical arm 6 at the mouth of the loop 5, and as the wire more than half fills the mouth of said loop it is obvious that it must be moved or sprung into said loop before it will be possible to introduce'the pin 3 within said loop or to extract it from the loop, it being clear that the coiled end of the spring-loop 10 could not be raised high enough upon the arm 6 to leave the passage clear for the pin, owing to the fact that said loop 9 will strike the lower portion of the loop 4, which would limit its upward movement even were it possible to spring said loop 10 upwardly'to that extent.

In the practical use of this pin after passing the pin proper through the object to be secured its free or pointed end is brought up through the loop 10, the passage 9, and transversely through the loop 4 to the contracted end of the loop 5 and upon the coiled or bent end of the loop 10. Slight pressure is then brought to bear upon said pin and it forces said coiled end of the loop 10 downwardly into the bodyof the loop 5 until there is room for the pin topass. Immediately this takes place said coiled end of the loop 10 springs upwardly again and closes the egress of the pin, so that it will be absolutely impossible for said pin to be disengaged from the loop 5 until the operator first depresses said coiled end of the loop 10 or, rat-her, until the operator, pressing upon said coiled end which forms a bearing-surface or handle and pressing upon the pin in the opposite direction, causes their simultaneous movemeutin opposite directions, and consequently the instantaneous freedom of the pin. The latter is then pressed upwardly and caused to move in the direction indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 3, in order to leave it free to penetrate any article which it may be desired to fasten. the same course in refastening.

The pin follows Fig. 3 illustrates the relative positions of the pin and the coiled end of the loop 10 when the pin is locked in position, while Fig. 4 illustrates their relative positions as the pin is being extracted from said loop 5.

It is obvious from the foregoing that I have produced a safety-pin which can be reliably locked so as to be impossible of accidental disengagement from the object with which it is engaged, and consequently a pin which will be found of great service in securing, for instance, blankets upon horses or other animals or for pinning covers upon a child whose tendency is to kick them off, and for valuable ornaments for personal decoration, &c.

Having thus described the invention, what Iclairn as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A safety-pin, formed of spring-wire and provided with a body portion or shank, ter- Ininating at one end in a spring-hinge and pin, and at the other end in a shield, constructed by bending the wire to form, a vertical loop, a transverse loop communicating with the vertical loop at one side, and a passage connecting at one end with the opposite end of the vertical loop, and by bending the 5 having its mouth contracted and coinmunieating with the loop 4 at one side thereof, an arm 8 at the opposite side of said loop 4, and a spring-loop 10 at the free end of said arm, having its free end extending through said loop 5 and coiled loosely around the Wire forming one side of the same, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN L. PHILLIPS.

Vitnesses:

G. Y. THORPE, M. R. REMLEY. 

